TUITHAPHAI, FEB 9: The dead body of T Vungkhanthang, 58, son of late Daithawng who was beaten to death by some miscreants has been claimed by family members early this morning after an agreement was reached between the government and the Zomi Council acting on behalf of the deceased’s family.Vungkhanthang, who had been working as a senior male nurse at the district hospital was attacked at his farm located about 2 kms from Churachandpur police station on the eastern side of the town of Nengthang Veng during the intervening night of March 6 and 7 while he was sleeping at his farm hut with one of his sons to take care of their cows and sheep.

During the scuffle with 4 to 5 miscreants at about 10 pm, Vungkhanthang was hit with blunt weapons at the head while his son who had come to know of the incident rushed in giving help to his father, but was overpowered yet escaped with serious injuries.

He managed to reach home and alerted his relatives and others who again rushed to the hut. But by the time his father was already unconscious and was brought to the hospital where he breathed his last. His son Tualbiaklian, 23, was admitted to the hospital in serious condition and is undergoing treatment.

This is not the first time killing of such innnocent people occurred as more than five instances of killing have taken place there so far.

Angry over the incident, many civil organisations have made their demand to the government for an end to such violence while blaming the district administration as well as the military forces’ inept handling of the situation.

As per the agreement reached today between the state government and the Zomi Council an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakhs was to be given to the deceased’s family, die-in-harness would be provided to the deceased family, financial assistance to the injured person and further booking of the responsible culprits at the earliest.The MOU was signed by PK Singh, IAS, secretary to the chief minister on behalf of the state government and on the other side by the Zomi Council general secretary Khamliankhup and the ZSF president Kapkhanmuan on behalf of the deceased’s family members.

Over the incident, there was a report of local violence between some youths but it was contained with active steps taken by the army, police and other paramilitary forces in the district.To avoid the situation from turning worse, the district administration has promulgated Section 144 CrPC from this morning 11 am to 6 am tomorrow.

The Zomi Human Rights Foundation, meanwhile, issued a statement today condemning the killing of Vungkhanthang on flimsy grounds and the injury to Tualbiaklian while staying at their own farm house and asked the government to book the culprits at the earliest.The ZSF termed the incident as barbaric and savage.